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Snow, freezing rain hits Northwest

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A wintry mix of snow, ice and rain showered fear and excitement in much of the Northwest, a region that typically lives under a cloud of mist and drizzle.

Seattleites woke up to rare winter powder Friday after an overnight weather system brought 1 to 3 inches of snow to the city and other parts of Washington state.

Some schools canceled classes, while others including Seattle Public Schools have delayed school start time because of the snow.

Strong winds toppled trees, and Portland General Electric reported about 22,000 customers in neighboring Clackamas County lost power before it was mostly restored, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Forecasters expected a couple inches of snow to stick to the ground, followed by freezing rain, heightening concerns about a treacherous commute in the region that does not use salt on slippery roads. The forecast calls for just rain eventually Friday morning.

On Thursday evening, Portland transit service said on Twitter that two light rail lines were disrupted because of ice on overhead power wires. At least one line of bus service had been canceled, and others were traveling, many with chains, on snow routes.

Freezing rain was also hitting Vancouver, Washington, and over 3 inches of snow had fallen at the state Capitol in Olympia by Thursday evening.

Many school districts canceled classes before the first flurries fell. Some will be closed Friday and others are opening late.